CPA affiliate programs can be both reliable and outright scams. The quality of a CPA program is determined by several criteria that should be considered to distinguish the best CPA networks from the worst.
What to Pay Attention To?
Commission Payouts
One of the most important factors is the timely payment of commissions, which proves the reliability of a CPA network.
However, despite the responsibility of many affiliate programs, some CPA network owners deceive their partners. There are several ways to identify a trustworthy CPA network:
- Reviews. Checking reviews is an effective method, despite being obvious. If you have doubts about a CPA program's reliability, search for reviews on dedicated forums. The advantage is that people there earn money in a way similar to yours. However, be cautious—some reviews might be fake or written by inexperienced partners who leave negative comments out of frustration. Analyze them carefully. On any forum, you can find a knowledgeable person whose opinion will be valuable.
- Personal Experience. When starting with a CPA program, don’t immediately launch a full-scale ad campaign, especially if you're using paid traffic. First, generate some targeted traffic to test the partner site, make initial sales, and receive your first commissions. Only then can you evaluate the program.
- Support Team. Another way to assess a CPA network’s reliability is by contacting its support team. Ask about payments, terms, and working conditions. Evaluate the speed and quality of their responses. If managers reply promptly, clearly, and politely, that’s a good sign. If responses are cold or rude, consider it a red flag.
Brand Recognition
Popular courses, info products, goods, and services sell better than those from unknown brands.
Ongoing CPA Network Development
A great CPA program continuously updates its offers, adds new products, and improves its service.
Conversion Rate
Before working with a CPA network, ask about the conversion rate of their landing pages. If conversion is low, even high-quality traffic won’t generate results, and you’ll waste time and money.
Commission Size
When evaluating commission rates, consider:
- Product/Service Price. For example, earning 15% from a product worth $500 is better than getting 60% from a product priced at $100.
- Product Demand. If a product is in high demand but offers a lower commission (e.g., 20%), it may still be more profitable than a niche product with higher commissions.
Marketing Materials
A strong CPA program provides high-quality promotional materials in various formats and styles.
